The Honest Backpacker: A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer Over 50

by James Klopovic, Nicole Klopovic

Overview

THE BABY BOOMER’S HANDBOOK FOR HITTING THE TRAIL

The soul-stirring majesty of watching the sunrise from the top of a mountain. The simple pleasure of getting drinking water from a cool, crystal-clear woodland stream. The warm camaraderie that you only find on the trail.
Backpacking is a magical pursuit. It’s not only an excellent way to achieve lifelong fitness and health, but it can also be a profoundly moving and unforgettable experience. It sparks something primal inside us and allows us to connect with nature on a deeply personal level.
But preparing for a trip into the great outdoors can seem like a daunting task for the first-time adventurer, especially those of us approaching and rebelling against our “golden” years. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone.
In The Honest Backpacker: A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer over 50 seasoned backpackers Jim and Nicole Klopovic share a step-by-step plan for preparing for your first backpacking trip tailored to the novice, mature adventurer. They provide essential advice and trail-proven tips on a wide variety of topics, including:
• Getting your body, mind, and spirit in shape for your trip
• Planning your hike (what, where, when)
• What gear you’ll need and how to select it
• Creating healthy menus and purchasing food for the trail
• What to pack and how to pack it
• Trail safety and etiquette
• And much, much more
You’ll learn everything you need to know to have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable backpacking experience . . . and want to do it again. Plus, to inspire and motivate you, Jim shares stories of the spectacular sights and fascinating people he met while trekking across northern England on the England Coast-to-Coast Walk.
Much more than just another “how-to” guide, The Honest Backpacker is your invitation to venture out into the wilderness, immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of nature, and “wash your spirit clean."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780998237213
Publisher:	Affinitas LLC
Publication date:	10/17/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

When Jim Klopovic retired after two careers and 50 years of “flying a desk,” he resolved to spend the best years of his life making new friends and memories and giving back. He decided to try backpacking and immediately fell in love with it. His many backpacking adventures have included hiking the England Coast-to-Coast Walk and portions of the Appalachian Trail while continuing to explore the world. Jim’s motivation for writing The Honest Backpacker is to inspire his fellow baby boomers (and others) to stay active, take the road less traveled, and experience the wonders of the trail. He lives in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Nicole Klopovic discovered her passion for outdoor activities as a child, when her father, Jim, would take her and her sister on nature excursions around their home in North Carolina. She is an avid backpacker whose experiences include hiking above 15,000 feet to Laguna 69 in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Her plans for future trips include hiking the Appalachian Trail and her ancestral homelands, Croatia and Australia, with her father. She resides in Sacramento, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments  PREFACE  INTRODUCTION The Honest Backpacker Evolves The Who, What, When, Where and How of It ROI: There Is Much More for You Than a Hike PART I: PREPARATION CHAPTER 1: Create a Timeline Preparation Overview CHAPTER 2: Milestones at a Glance Decide Where and When to Hike Research or Reconnoiter Trailheads Conduct Initial Meeting of Hikers Complete Medical Profile and Physical Begin Physical Conditioning Begin Better Diet Reserve Accommodations Attend Classes (If Available) Procure Gear—Backpack First Train in Gear Do a Short Overnight Shakedown Trip Ramp Up the Physical Training Procure Food Procure Any Prescription Medications Plan Post-Trip Debrief/Critique Attend to Personal Affairs During the Trip Confirm Accommodations and Determine Trail Conditions Check Weather Consider Leaving the Cell Phone Behind Pack Hit the Trail Conduct Post-Trip Debrief/Critique Discuss Ideas/Plan Next Trip PART II: THE WHOLE PERSON CHAPTER 3: Introduction to the Whole Person WHAT IS “THE WHOLE PERSON”? Body: Establish a Physical Fitness Regimen Mind: Investigate Mindfulness Spirit: Getting “Up” for the Trip SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS IT’S ALL IN YOUR MIND CHAPTER 4: Getting Yourself Ready: Physical Fitness DISCIPLINE, DIET AND COMMON SENSE Three Simple Rules Diet Attitude The 40-30-30 Plan Getting Through the Day: A Daily Schedule of Meals GETTING IN SHAPE FOR BOOMERS What Kind of Exercise Are We Talking About? Make Exercise a Habit Exercise Tips from Olympians Exercise Sensibly What Is a Boomer to Do? A Week of Exercise: An Example Dealing With Setbacks MILESTONES FOR THE RUN-UP TO THE HIKE One Year Out: Put the Whole-Person Plan in Place Six Months Out: Throw in a Little Prep for Actual Hiking Three Months Out: Transition to Actual Hiking Six Weeks Out: Get Trail-Hardened Before You Have To  CHAPTER 5: Getting Yourself Ready: Mental Fitness GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION Technical Skills When Enough Is Enough A Word About Your Sawbones (Seeing a Doctor, That Is)  CHAPTER 6: Getting Yourself Ready: A Fit Spirit  PART III: PACKING ESSENTIALS  CHAPTER 7: Gear THE MUST-BRING LIST The Backpack Sleeping: To Tent or Not to Tent? Getting Ready to Eat: Fire, Pot and Spoon Hydration Clothing: Lightweight and Just Enough First Aid: All That Will Fit in a Plastic Baggie General Camp Equipment and Repairs Toiletries and Toilet: There Is a Difference Orienteering and Daily Journal Logging Miscellaneous IGNORE THIS ADVICE AT YOUR PERIL CHAPTER 8: Food A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE MENU PLANNING CONVENIENT BUT NUTRITIOUS KEEPING FUELED FROM “ME” AND “YOU” EATING EQUIPMENT Meals PERSONALIZE IT: YOUR PACK IS YOURS PART IV: HITTING THE TRAIL CHAPTER 9: Trail-Tested Wisdom from The Honest Backpacker Tip 1: Stop and Smell the Jasmine Tip 2: Check Hiking Conditions Around Starting Time Tip 3: Assemble Gear Tip 4: Plan Transportation to and From the Hike Tip 5: Get the Most Out of Your Hike Tip 6: Bone Up on Trail Nutrition Tip 7: Learn How to Set Up and Break Camp Efficiently Tip 8: Practice Good Safety, Health and Hygiene Tip 9: Have a Plan B CHAPTER 10: Correcting Errata AFTERWORD: Perspectives of an Experienced Hiker Appendix 1: Leave No Trace: Outdoor Ethics Appendix 2: Adult Medical Information for The Trail Appendix 3: Authorization and Consent Form Appendix 4: Adult Medical History  Resources About the Authors  Index

Editorial Reviews

“. . . fills a much-needed void for folks over the age of 50 who are hitting the trail for the first time.” —Jennifer Pharr Davis, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year

“ Simply put, The Honest Backpacker is inspirational. If you have ever dreamed of experiencing the outdoors, read this book!” —KURT KOONTZ, Author, Speaker, Adventurer

“ A practical and congenial guidebook that encourages and inspires, The Honest Backpacker proposes that a flexible mind is the most crucial component in leading an adventurous life and that enjoyment of our stunning planet can still be had, even if the body isn’t as flexible as it once was.” —ANDREW ZALEWSKI, Co-Owner, Rock and Snow Outfitters

From the Publisher